Having being stood up by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, senators have demanded that the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) registration process be stopped, saying that the programme is shrouded in mystery.
“We must get and undertaking from the CS that they suspend this exercise until we come to the bottom of all this and until we have a legislation to protect the privacy and personal data of Kenyans,” said Kakamega Senator Moses Wetangula who led other senators in calling for the suspension of the exercise.
Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri further stated that the people’s bio data being given without any clear explanation may have adverse implications.
“A law like this that came under the miscellaneous amendment bill is wrong. We are the representative of the people and we can’t explain the implications of the bio data. Any bio data be it finance data needs to be protected through a substantive law so that every Kenyan understands what we are getting into,” he said.
The senators also want revealed the name of the contractor and the cost of the whole process.
This is after CS Matiang’i sent his junior, Patrick Ntutu- Interior Cabinet Administrative Secretary, to meet the senators on his behalf. Mr Ntutu however failed to give a comprehensive report, saying that they needed more time.
While that happens, the senators have said that the process should stop, demanding the key players to come clean about the Huduma Namba process.
“We will now demand as a house that the following be summoned to appear on March 11. Interior Cabinet Secretary, his ICT counterpart and the Attorney General. In that meeting now we shall also invite other interested parties on this matter,” said Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.
“We are now determining that until then, that this process be suspended. If you are available tomorrow, then we will meet, and you will go on,” he added.